Las Vegas: Tape Face Show at the MGM Grand

Tape Face turns a strip of black tape into a comic signature, then builds a whole 90-minute show around physical comedy and wild imagination. I like the clever simplicity of it, and I like that Sam Wills does not need a complicated story or a large cast to keep the room involved.

The show is also unusually friendly for a Las Vegas production. Audience participation is part of the design, not a small extra, and the acts can work for children and adults together. The trade-off is that anyone who dislikes being called on may feel a little exposed, especially with close seating.

Key points to know before you go

• Sam Wills is Tape Face: The New Zealand comedian became widely known through America’s Got Talent and America’s Got Talent: The Champions.
• The humor is mainly visual: Expect physical comedy, surprising movements, and imaginative acts rather than a conventional stand-up routine.
• Audience participation matters: You may be asked to take part, so this suits people who enjoy a little playful risk.
• The show lasts 90 minutes: That gives you a compact evening activity without taking up a full night.
• Category A VIP adds real extras: You get the closest seats plus a T-shirt, signed cartoon photo, souvenir poker chip, and lanyard.
• The MGM Grand location is convenient: You go to the Underground Theatre, with no hotel pickup or drop-off included.

What Tape Face is really selling

A Las Vegas comedy show can easily become a contest of volume, costumes, and special effects. Tape Face takes another path. Sam Wills uses a restrained comic character, physical timing, and odd little ideas that grow into full routines.

That simplicity is the main appeal. You are not asked to follow a complicated plot. You watch a performer turn ordinary movements and objects into comic problems, then solve them in unexpected ways. The result is closer to a live cartoon brought to life than to a standard stand-up set.

I especially like this format for people who do not speak English with ease. The humor depends heavily on gesture, timing, facial expression, and visual surprise. That does not make the show silent or language-free, but it does make the basic comic idea easy to follow across age groups and backgrounds.

The show also has a warm, small-scale feel despite being part of the MGM Grand entertainment program. The tone is playful rather than flashy. If you want a polished production built around singers, dancers, or a large stage spectacle, this is not that kind of night. If you enjoy one performer making a room laugh through imagination and body control, it is a more unusual choice.

Arriving at the MGM Grand Underground Theatre

Your meeting point is the Underground Theatre at MGM Grand. The ticket does not include hotel pickup or drop-off, so you need to make your own way to the resort and locate the theater before show time.

That detail matters in Las Vegas. MGM Grand is a large property, and you will want to allow enough time to get inside, find the correct area, and settle into your seat without rushing. Your ticket category also matters at the entrance, particularly if you have booked Category A VIP seating and need to collect the included bag.

The venue information describes the setting as inviting and intimate. That is a good match for Tape Face, since the comedy depends on small reactions and a sense that the performer is playing with the room rather than presenting a distant spectacle. The exact atmosphere can depend on your seat and the audience on your night, but the format is designed to bring people into the action.

There is no tour transport or sightseeing stop attached to this booking. Think of it as a self-contained MGM Grand theater outing. You arrive, watch the performance, and then continue with your Las Vegas evening.

The first minutes: a character built from a simple idea

The Tape Face character is instantly recognizable. Sam Wills performs as a comic figure with tape across his mouth, and that visual choice sets the tone for the night. It is odd, clean, and easy to understand at once.

From there, the performance relies on the contrast between a nearly blank comic persona and an active imagination. The character may appear quiet or limited, but the physical work creates the jokes. That tension is what makes the show accessible. You do not need a detailed backstory to understand the setup.

I would not book this expecting a long series of conventional jokes. The comedy comes through the body: movement, pauses, reactions, and the surprise of seeing a simple idea pushed farther than you expect. The show’s appeal rests on timing. A small action can become funny when the performer holds it just long enough, repeats it in a new way, or gives it an unexpected result.

That also explains why the show has reached audiences through television. The character reads clearly from a distance, and the visual acts translate well to a live stage. Seeing the format in person adds the response of the room, particularly when the audience becomes part of the action.

Imaginative acts instead of a standard stand-up set

The advertised performance combines mind-bending imaginative acts with physical comedy. That description is more useful than trying to label the show as magic, mime, or stand-up. It borrows something from each, but it does not fit neatly into one category.

You might find yourself watching an ordinary situation change into a comic puzzle. The pleasure comes from asking how the moment will develop, then seeing Sam Wills take it in a stranger direction. The acts are designed to surprise, but the mood remains light rather than tense.

This is also why Tape Face can work for a mixed-age group. Children can respond to the visual action, while adults can appreciate the timing and the deliberate silliness underneath it. The age rule is clear: children aged 3 and older need their own ticket, while children aged 2 and under may attend as a lap seat. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

I would still think about your group before booking. A child who enjoys physical comedy and audience games may have a terrific time. A child who needs a fast-moving story, loud spectacle, or familiar characters may find the structure less direct. Adults who prefer sharp verbal comedy should know that this is a different rhythm.

Audience participation changes your seat choice

Participation is central to the experience. The performance is not simply a series of acts delivered toward a passive audience. People in the room may be invited to help, react, or become part of a comic situation.

That can be the most memorable part of the evening. It creates the kind of surprise you cannot get from watching a television clip. It also gives the show a friendly, shared feeling, which helps explain why it has been described as family-like and intimate.

The clear caution is that participation can make some people nervous. If you strongly prefer to sit unnoticed, choose your seat with care and be prepared for the possibility of attention. No ticket category can guarantee that you will or will not be selected, so you should book this with the right attitude: enjoy the possibility rather than treating it as a risk to avoid.

VIP Category A places you closest to the stage and before the regular and general admission sections. That may improve your view and make the physical details easier to see. It may also put you more visibly in the performance space. For an enthusiastic fan, that closeness is a benefit. For a shy audience member, a regular seat may feel more comfortable.

Is the $81 price good value?

At $81 per person, this is not a throwaway activity, but it is within the normal range of a dedicated Las Vegas theater experience. The value depends on what you want from your night.

You are paying for a 90-minute professional show centered on a distinctive character and a form of comedy that is difficult to duplicate at a bar, casino lounge, or free street performance. If you already know Tape Face from television or social media, the price may feel easier to justify because you understand the style before you arrive.

The price becomes more attractive for Category A VIP ticket holders. You receive the closest seating and a swag bag with a Tape Face T-shirt, signed cartoon Tape Face photo, souvenir poker chip, and Tape Face lanyard. To collect these items, go directly to the theater entrance with your VIP ticket. An usher will direct you to the pickup point.

Those souvenirs will not matter to everyone. If you are booking for a fan, however, they add something tangible to the ticket. The signed cartoon photo and poker chip are especially suited to someone who enjoys collecting show memorabilia, while the T-shirt gives the package a more practical item.

For a budget-conscious night, compare the ticket category carefully rather than paying for VIP automatically. The core show is the same attraction, and the main benefit of Category A is closeness plus the bag. If you want the full fan experience, it has a clearer case. If you mainly want to see the performance, a lower category may give you better control over the total cost.

Who will enjoy this 90-minute show most?

I would recommend Tape Face to you if you like visual comedy, strange stage ideas, and performers who can make a lot from very little. It is also a good pick for a group with different ages, since the basic humor does not depend on a dense plot or specialist knowledge.

It suits first-time Las Vegas visitors who want a theater night that feels different from the usual casino lineup. It also works for returning visitors who have already seen large-scale productions and want something more personal.

The show may be less suitable if you are looking for an evening of traditional stand-up, musical numbers, or a serious dramatic story. You should also think twice if you dislike audience participation or if your group includes someone who may find public attention stressful.

The 90-minute length is a practical advantage. You can fit it around dinner, another MGM Grand activity, or a later plan without giving up an entire evening. Since no hotel transportation is included, the experience is easiest for anyone already staying near MGM Grand or comfortable making their own way there.

What the strongest reactions tell you

The most consistent praise focuses on three things: comedy, surprise, and the audience’s role. The show is repeatedly described as very funny, unexpected, and worth seeing again. Those are useful clues because they point to the actual experience rather than just the performer’s television reputation.

One particularly helpful detail is the comparison to a small Las Vegas show. That does not mean the production lacks polish. It means the experience feels close and personal rather than enormous and impersonal. If you like the sense of a room sharing the same joke, that atmosphere is likely to suit you.

The response from international audiences is also telling. People from the United Kingdom, Germany, and Austria have enjoyed the show, and one German-speaking audience member praised both the humor and the requirement that people take part. That supports the idea that the visual style crosses language barriers well.

At the same time, television familiarity affects expectations. If you already know Tape Face from America’s Got Talent or online clips, you will have a good sense of the character and comic style. If you have never seen him, go in expecting an imaginative physical comedy show, not a typical Vegas headliner with a large supporting cast.

Practical details that can save you trouble

The show is wheelchair accessible, which makes it a workable choice for many visitors with mobility needs. You should still check your booking details for the seating category you select and allow time to reach the Underground Theatre inside MGM Grand.

Tickets cost $81 per person according to the supplied price, with Category A VIP available as an upgraded seating option. The base ticket includes the show. Hotel pickup, hotel drop-off, food, and drinks are not included in the experience information provided.

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. A reserve-now-and-pay-later option is also available, which can help if your Las Vegas schedule is still changing.

For families, remember the age rules. Children aged 3 and older need tickets, children aged 2 and under may sit on an adult’s lap, and anyone under 18 must attend with an adult. The show itself is listed for all ages.

Should you book Tape Face at MGM Grand?

Book it if you want clever physical comedy, a 90-minute performance, and the chance to see a well-known television character in a live room. I would especially recommend it for families, international visitors, fans of America’s Got Talent, and anyone who enjoys a little audience participation.

Choose regular seating if you want the show without paying extra for souvenirs. Choose Category A VIP if the closest view, early seating position, and four-piece Tape Face bag matter to you.

Skip it if your ideal Vegas night means a large musical production, a conventional stand-up set, or a performance where you can remain entirely anonymous. For everyone else, Tape Face offers a funny, compact, and refreshingly odd break from the usual casino entertainment.

FAQ

Where does the Tape Face show take place?

The show takes place at the Underground Theatre inside MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.

How long is the performance?

The performance lasts 90 minutes.

Who performs as Tape Face?

Tape Face is the stage character created and performed by New Zealand comedian Sam Wills, known from America’s Got Talent and America’s Got Talent: The Champions.

Is the show suitable for children?

Yes. The show is listed for all ages. Children aged 3 and older need tickets, children aged 2 and under may attend as a lap seat, and anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

What is included with Category A VIP seating?

Category A VIP includes seating closest to the stage and before the regular and general admission sections. It also includes a swag bag with a Tape Face T-shirt, signed cartoon Tape Face photo, souvenir poker chip, and Tape Face lanyard.

Can I cancel my booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. A reserve-now-and-pay-later option is also available.